Darth Plagueis

For years, since the release of "Revenge of the Sith," I've been waiting to hear more about the tale of Darth Plagueis. Palpatine hinted that Plagueis created Anakin. A chance to find out more about that, and more about the being who trained Darth Sidious, would've been a real treat. And a treat it was, having completed the novel by James Luceno.

The book is equal parts Plagueis and Sidious, likely because their two stories and lives are so intertwined. The novel starts as Plagueis kills his master, a bith named Darth Tenebrous, who masquerades as the architect Rugess Nome. Plagueis continues his double life as the wealthy Hego Damask, with plans to enact the grand plan of the sith, defeating the jedi and restoring stablity to the galaxy. A plan in words for centuries.

Plagueis encounters a young man simply named Palpatine on Naboo, and realizes he could be his apprentice. After Palpatine murders his family, he takes the name Darth Sidious, and together they work on enacting the grand plan. Plagueis realizes that Palpatine could be the political figure to take control of the Republic, and appoint Damask as co-chancellor. As Palpatine is groomed in politics, Plagueis focuses on multiple scientific experiments on his home of Sojourn, attempting to control midi-chlorians.

A large number is important faces make their way here. We see Sifo-Dyas, who actually is a jedi who orders the clone army, albeit under the suggestion of Damask. We see Dooku, as a jedi slightly embittered with the Republic, and later as one willing to delve into learning about the dark side. Qui-Gon makes an appearance as Dooku's apprentice. We see Obi-Wan and Anakin, although they're really seen in scenes from TPM. And a nice touch was seeing Jorus C'boath.

Overall, the book was very good. I thought before reading this, that Palpatine was a genius. Then, I felt that Plagueis was really behind it all: the clone army, the seperatist war, the blockade of Naboo, etc. Until, at the end, Sidious says he suggested those to Plagueis, and was playing him the entire time. I also thought Plagueis died sometime before TPM, but he was around, playing his diminishing part in galactic events up until Palpatine's election. Plagueis was monumental in getting Palpatine elected.

The book delves into a lot of political stuff, and sometimes it gets confusing as to what the sith's plans exactly are with these various trade guilds and trade routes and mercenaries (like the black sun). Overall, it confirms the genius of Palpatine, although he was heavily influenced by the teachings of Plagueis. And it answers an important question: Anakin was not directly created by Plagueis, but likely in respose to Plagueis's tampering with midi-chlorians. A fantastic book, one I hope to read again and glean more information from.